David Cox - shoulder surgery

[Camping Coxes]

As some of you know, David injured his shoulder working out with his water polo team.  Turned out to be a torn rotator cuff.  His shoulder joint is also dislocating on movement.  So on Wednesday 9/20 he will be having surgery to repair the rotator and tighten up the joint.  Fortunately his doctor is a believer in pain control and will be sending him home with a pump in his shoulder to administer anesthetic for a few days, as well as oral pain meds.
 
Please keep David and the whole family in your prayers.  It's going to be a trying time, and going back to school Monday will be a challenge with his arm in a sling completely immobilized for the next four weeks.  David's been a trooper, but I can tell he's getting concerned at this point.

[Sue Hardee]

As some of you know, David injured his shoulder working out with his water polo team.  Turned out to be a torn rotator cuff.  His shoulder joint is also dislocating on movement.  So on Wednesday 9/20 he will be having surgery to repair the rotator and tighten up the joint.  Fortunately his doctor is a believer in pain control and will be sending him home with a pump in his shoulder to administer anesthetic for a few days, as well as oral pain meds.
 
Please keep David and the whole family in your prayers.  It's going to be a trying time, and going back to school Monday will be a challenge with his arm in a sling completely immobilized for the next four weeks.  David's been a trooper, but I can tell he's getting concerned at this point.

I had that surgery about 4 months ago..it is painful and I only wish my doctor would of sent me home with at pain pump!...it takes about 3 months before he will turn the corner on pain...don't let him do much the risk or reinjury are good..tell him to do all his phiysical thereapy and hang in there and hell be glad he did.  I will be thinking of him.

[Dee4j]

prayers a good thoughts going your way for a successful surgery and a speedy recovery.

Hang in there David!!!

Trina surgery is scary I know, I've had possible sugery on Kevins Kidney looming for almost 10 months now. but the new Dr. wants to redo some tests in Feb see where we stand.

but as Sue says..He needs to let it heal even if he feels better. I'm still feeling old Soccer injuries I didn't take care.

please let us know how it goes

[OC Campers]

We hope David is up and feeling better soon.  He will be in our prayers for a safe surgery and speedy recovery.
 
Jacqui

[cjpoppin]

Good luck with the surgery David and do what the doctor says........Have a speedy recovery and know you and family are in our prayers......Gotta love those pain pumps!!!!!!  Carol

[Camping Coxes]

First of all, thanks to everyone for your good wishes and prayers.  They were very appreciated.
 
We got to the hospital at 7:30 AM and they immediately had David getting ready for surgery.  They had him change, started his IV and then went through all the questions, etc.  He was scheduled for surgery at 9:00 AM, but wasn't taken to the OR until about 10:00.  I went back with him to the pre-op area since only one of us was allowed.  It was pretty funny watching David "get happy" after the anesthesiologist gave him his initial doses of anesthesia.  He was giggling and pulling his hair cover thing over his eyes.  I wished I had a video camera!!!
 
His surgery was scheduled to be about 1 1/2 hours, if it was only the rotator cuff.  The doctor was expecting more than the rotator though and had mentioned a labrum tear.  At 2 1/2 hours we figured it was more than the rotator.  The doctor came out a short time later and spoke with us.  Turns out it wasn't the rotator cuff that was torn after all.  It actually was the labrum and capsule, which keep the ball part of the shoulder in the small cup that it sits in.  When the doctor was examining him the shoulder kept popping out of joint and you could see his shoulder quiver when it happened.  The labrum and capsule were torn which allowed the bone to move out of its proper position every single time he moved his arm in certain positions, which of course were the positions he needed for swimming and passing in water polo, not to mention everyday life things.  The doctor said it is a much better injury, if there is such a thing, to have because a rotator tear is more serious type injury as far as long term prognosis.  The recovery and therapy will be the same though.
 
At 3 hours they called me back to recovery because he was asking for me.  I fully expected that to be bad news -- him crying, etc.  When I got there he was awake, but upset because he felt he was awake enough to get up and go to the bathroom (not allowed to get up in recovery) and he was thirsty and they wouldn't give him water.  He definitely woke up grumpy, but he wasn't having a lot of pain remarkably.
 
After about 45 minutes they moved him back to the same day surgery center to recover.  There they offered him food, but more importantly, he was able to go use the bathroom!!!   The nurses insisted on walking on each side of him in case he got dizzy because he was just back from recovery.  It was kind of funny watching the nurses walk with him, him being 6'3" and they being a little taller than me.  But they had been called over to specifically help him, because his nurse was about 5'2" and said there was no way she could hold him if he started to fall (TIMBER!!!!).  So David and Paul watched some stuff on the History channel while he recovered and David ate a tuna sandwich, some pudding and drank some apple juice.  Then they sent us home.  
 
He's been doing great at home.  He's even gone back to playing video games on the computer already, believe it or not.  He has a huge sling with a foam wedge and it's at the right level for his fingers to hit a key here or there.  He also has a pump attached surgically into his shoulder that dispenses a constant dose of Marcain, a pain reliever.  If he feels more pain than he's comfortable with, he can push a button and it gives him a little more.  He hasn't had any nausea from the anesthesia or anything.  
 
Last night at dinner when Paul prayed, he prayed that the surgeon would go in and find a healthy rotator cuff.  Guess what-- that's what he found.  Praise the Lord!

[Dee4j]

wow that is great!!!  :#  We are so glad he is doing well. just a note about pain. the 3rd day after surgery is usually the worse and also pain meds give you a false sense of being "better" which could cause a person to over do it. so tell him to take it easy. I know the idea of video games and sitting at the computer seem relaxing but it could be putting strain on his shoulder and he not know it.

[griffsdad]

Good news Trina!!! Sounds like his shoulder will be better than ever!!

[wavery]

I'm sorta in the other camp on the "Take it easy" thing. I found that getting moving and drinking "LOTS" of water made a big difference after both of the surgeries that I had.

I'm not suggesting lifting weights or swimming but you might want to ask the Dr if walking might be good for him.

Anesthetics are very toxic and they effect the whole body, especially the intestines and muscle tissue. I found it very helpful to get them out of the system as soon as possible. I found the necessity to take pain medication eliminated by getting the toxins out of my system. It also helps to alleviate the "Post-op Blues". I didn't have any of that stuff.

We'll be praying for a fast, smooth and complete recovery for David.

[Azusateach]

Good news, Trina!  How's he doing tonight?

Laura

[cjpoppin]

Glad to hear the good news.............Good story enjoyed reading it.....Wish I could write like you........When there is a will and a way to do it they'll find out how to use the computer and games........Hahaaaaaaa  Take Care........Get Well Soon.........

[griffsmom]

Trina, glad to hear your prayers were answered!  Here's sending up another one that David heals completely and quickly!  Despite all the helpful advice you get from us "good doctors" here at PUT, just follow the surgeon's after-care instructions and I'm sure he'll be fine.  

[griffsdad]

Trina, I've had at least 12 surgeries in my life. The first one was when I was 2 days old. Do what the MD says. That and rehab will make your son better than before.

[Camping Coxes]

David continues to improve.  As Dee said, the 2nd and 3rd day were a little tougher on him pain-wise.  We went in Friday and had the dressing removed and the pain pump taken out.  He has three incisions, and the hole where the tube from the pump was.  The doctor said David was able to use the computer as long as he doesn't move the shoulder around, and in fact it will be good for him to move the wrist and fingers around.  (However, his mouth and attitude got him kicked off the computer for while, so that's not an issue now).
 
Paul helped him shower today, finally.  Sponge baths just don't cut it for a 16YO boy!  He slept in today until 9:00 AM (he's been waking up at 6:45 AM at the latest since his surgery), but when he woke up he was in a lot of pain because it had been 10 hours since he had his last pain meds, and he had a headache (withdrawals from the Vicodin maybe?)  So we got him showered and ready for church, but he was still feeling pretty bad when it was time to leave, so I stayed home with him.  Eventually his headache went away and he's been fine all day.  He even ventured out to visit a neighbor friend for a few hours.
 
David goes back to school tomorrow.  I spoke to the asst. principal and he E-mailed David's teachers about allowing him to leave class early to avoid the crush of students in the halls during passing periods, and also about providing classroom copies of books.  I got an E-mail today from his Spanish teacher informing me he will need to bring in his book tomorrow.  I informed her he would not bring in his book because he can't handle a weighted backpack, and I will personally bring it to her in the morning when I bring him to school.  She is also the only teacher who initially refused to get him a classroom copy at our request, necessitating me to get the asst. principal involved.  We'll see how tomorrow goes.  She also sent me a copy of his pending progress report, which is so far an "F",  and informed me he's missing several assignments -- which happened to all be dated the week he's been out!!!!  Grrrrrr.  I'm not liking this teacher very much.
 
When we go to Temecula it will be exactly 1 month since his surgery, so he may be out of his sling already, but he'll still be limited.  No bike riding or swimming, no horsing around with the younger kids.  So any teenagers who want to invite him to hang out, I'm sure he'd appreciate it.  This trip I think we're going to have to allow him to bring the portable TV and Gamecube since he can't do much.
 
Again, thanks for the concern, prayers and well wishes.  We appreciate it.

[Camping Coxes]

Glad to hear the good news.............Good story enjoyed reading it.....Wish I could write like you........When there is a will and a way to do it they'll find out how to use the computer and games........Hahaaaaaaa Take Care........Get Well Soon.........

I write like I talk -- fast and long-winded!   :J